Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-03-18
valuable Hints ON the Care of Horses
Feet.

1t is generally conceded by horsemen,
says writer in Dunton's Spirit, that lame
ness originates chiefly in the faulty treat
ment of the horses foot This fact suggests
several recommendation for the mitigation
of the evil
LIST Bare feet. Itmay be stated as IA gen
eral proposition that any horse with fairly
good feet need never be shod at all. In the
barefooted horse the heels spread out, the
frogs descend. and ridges form upon the
soles, giving to the bottom of the feet a
good purchase upon either rough or smooth
surface He soon learns to rely upon him
self, and so adjusts his equilibrium TO mo
ton that he neither strains himself, nor
slips, nor stumbles. Horsemen have often
given this plan short, faint-hearted trial
but on the first manifestation of footsore
ness at the end of few weeks, and before
the feet have become Injured to the change
usually have the shoes replaced again. This
may be aptly illustrated by the experience
of the writer. In the spring of 1881 l de
termined to carry out this method in the
case of mare constantly on the road Her
feet were of average quality. In about five
weeks her feet became hot, tender and
lame. | had the shoes replaced. In the
early spring of 1889 had the shoes taken
she became so lame again in front that
gave it up, quite satisfied that it was unsafe
and impracticable. In March, 1888, made
final and successful effort. Toward the
end of April, however, the mare became
very sore and lame but, remembering the
sorefootedness that tries for time every
summer the grit of the earnest barefooted
boy, kept on driving her. In two months
the heat and lameness in the feet entirely
disappeared, and it never returned. She is
still driven every day and has typically per
feet feet My experience in this case inn
presses me, as | have already affirmed, that
the average footed horse needs no shoes.
2d. Rasp. In the event of the owner de
termining to keep his horse shod, let him
insist that in preparing the foot for the shoe
no instrument shall he employed except the
rasp. See 10 it that the smith never takes
in his hand either the pincers or the knife
1t will follow that the sole will be neither
cut nor cupped, nor the heels opened up
nor the bars cut away These practices ar,
wholly unnecessary and are hurtful to tn,
| feet,
Sd. Shoes. Do not permit the shoes to b,
conceived on the foot surface have then
made perfectly even and level from end t,
end, so that part of the bearing shall b,
upon the sole and part upon the crust o
the foot.
4th. Heels. Be careful that the heels ar,
equal in height. This point is often neg
lected and is fruitful source of lamenes
in the legs and knees. Remember that i
one heel is allowed to be only one eighth o
an inch higher or lower than the other one
the knee and the parts above it will be GU
Of plumb or displaced five-eighths of al
inch. This will surely and seriously impai
the functions and motions of the foot an
leg and speedily lead to lameness.
The views here briefly expressed are i
consonance with the anatomy, physiolog
and functions of the horses foot, and doubt
less will be endorsed by every recent vete
rinary authority upon the foot of the horse
By following these hints, as the writer ha
done for many years, the reader will nc
only save himself money and annoyance
hut his noble helpmate unnecessary pain an
| lameneSs